One dead as shooting mars Albania's election

Updated 7:54 am, Monday, June 24, 2013

An Albanian casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in elections seen as an important test of their countrys ambitions for closer ties to the European Union, but an ongoing dispute over who counts the ballots could leave the result up in the air. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

An Albanian casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013, in...

This photo taken from video provided by Top Channel shows the body of Gjon Gjoni, 53, who was shot in an exchange of gunfire close to a polling station in Lac, 37 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of capital Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013 as Albania is holding parliamentary elections. There were few immediate details, but a police spokesman said that Gjon Gjoni, died after being shot in an exchange of fire with Mhill Fufi, 49, a candidate for Berisha's governing Democratic Party. An opposition party leader identified Gjoni as a supporter. Another man, Kastriot Fufi, was also injured. It was not immediately clear if he and the candidate were related. The shooting in the city of Lac started with an argument, said police spokesman Tefik Sulejmani, who gave few other details. (AP Photo/Top Channel) (AP (Frame from TOP CHANNEL) )

This photo taken from video provided by Top Channel shows the body...

Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party prepares to cast his ballot during elections in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, June 23, 2013. Berisha and his close rival, Socialist leader Edi Rama, have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, but the bloc has expressed concern over whether the country can manage to run fair and free elections. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party prepares to...

An Albanian woman casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013 in the Albanian elections. An Albanian political candidate was shot and a supporter of a rival party killed in an exchange of gunfire near a polling station, police said Sunday, as the country held crucial elections already marred by a dispute that could leave the outcome up in the air. Both conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his close rival, Socialist leader Edi Rama, have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, and the election is seen as a test of whether the country can run a fair and safe vote. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

An Albanian woman casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013...

An Albanian woman casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013 in the Albanian elections. An Albanian political candidate was shot and a supporter of a rival party killed in an exchange of gunfire near a polling station, police said Sunday, as the country held crucial elections already marred by a dispute that could leave the outcome up in the air. Both conservative Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his close rival, Socialist leader Edi Rama, have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, and the election is seen as a test of whether the country can run a fair and safe vote. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

An Albanian woman casts her vote in Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013...

This photo taken from video provided by Top Channel shows the body of Gjon Gjoni, 53, who was shot in an exchange of gunfire close to a polling station in Lac, 37 miles (60 kilometers) northwest of capital Tirana, Sunday, June 23, 2013 as Albania is holding parliamentary elections. There were few immediate details, but a police spokesman said that Gjon Gjoni, died after being shot in an exchange of fire with Mhill Fufi, 49, a candidate for Berisha's governing Democratic Party. An opposition party leader identified Gjoni as a supporter. Another man, Kastriot Fufi, was also injured. It was not immediately clear if he and the candidate were related. The shooting in the city of Lac started with an argument, said police spokesman Tefik Sulejmani, who gave few other details. (AP Photo/Top Channel)

This photo taken from video provided by Top Channel shows the body...

Main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama poses for photographers before he casts his ballot during elections in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, June 23, 2013. Socialist leader Edi Rama and his close rival Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, but the bloc has expressed concern over whether the country can manage to run fair and free elections. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Main opposition Socialist Party leader Edi Rama poses for...

Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party gives a V sign and poses for photos before he casts his ballot during elections in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, June 23, 2013. Berisha and his close rival, Socialist leader Edi Rama, have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, but the bloc has expressed concern over whether the country can manage to run fair and free elections. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

Prime Minister Sali Berisha of the Democratic Party gives a V sign...

An Albanian voter casts her ballot in Tirana, Albania, Sunday, June 23, 2013. Prime Minister Sali Berisha and his close rival, Socialist leader Edi Rama, have hopes for eventual entry to the European Union, but the bloc has expressed concern over whether the country can manage to run fair and free elections. (AP Photo/Hektor Pustina)

TIRANA, Albania — Albania's national elections Sunday were marred by violence after an exchange of gunfire wounded a candidate and killed a supporter of a rival party, tainting what had been a largely peaceful campaign and threatening to undermine the country's bid to join the European Union.

The violence near a polling station, which drew condemnation from an EU official, added to the existing uncertainty surrounding the election. Though the leader of the main Socialist Party has claimed victory, it's unclear when the results will be announced because the body that oversees elections in the Balkan country hasn't enough members to certify them constitutionally following a political dispute. However, the law mandates they be revealed no later than three days after the polls.

Election day has been overshadowed by the violence. A police spokesman said Gjon Gjoni, 49, died after being shot in an exchange of fire that also wounded Mhill Fufi, 49, a candidate for Prime Minister Sali Berisha's governing Democratic Party. An opposition party leader identified Gjoni as a supporter. Another man, Fufi's relative Kastriot Fufi, 39, was also wounded.

Details surrounding the incident, which took place in the city of Lac, about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of the capital, Tirana, were sketchy. However, the police spokesman confirmed that it started with an argument.

A spokeswoman for the ruling Democratic Party, Laura Vorpsi, said Fufi was trying to move away some opposition supporters who were trying to bribe voters, and alleged that they "responded with shooting rounds."

"The Democratic Party harshly denounces any act of violence," Vorpsi said.

Once one of the world's most hardline communist countries, Albania has had a rocky road to democracy over the past couple of decades. Corruption has plagued the impoverished country, and its elections have been marred by violence and vote-rigging.

Some 3.3 million registered voters were eligible to vote, the eighth national polls since the fall of communism in 1990.